October 8, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

729

TRADE AND THE WAR.

The Minister of Munitions has declared 264 additional
establishments as controlled under the Act, making a total
of 979.

The Coal Exports Committee wish it to be known that
though it is at present considered desirable severely to restrict
the exportation of gas coke, the same necessity does not arise
in the case of coke other than gas coke, such as foundry or
blastfurnace coke, licences for the export of which are freely
granted.

The Association of Chambers of Commerce have decided to
inform the Government that, in their opinion, if a moratorium
in enemy countries is declared after the war, the British
Government should prevent any payments being made by
British traders in respect of debts due to enemy traders until
it can be seen whether the debts due to British traders will be
paid.

In .answer to *a question by Mr. Rowlands in the House
of Commons, Capt. Pretyman stated that the Board of
Trade have so far only received definite replies from seven
of the 2,000 .authorities to whom the circular calling atten-
tion to the importance of making arrangements with coal
merchants to fix a reasonable price of coal to small con-
sumers, was sent. Four authorities reported that they had
made arrangements with the local coal merchants. Mr.
Rowlands urged that some action should be taken to hurry
up local authorities so that the recommendations of the
Departmental Committee might be put in force.

The heading “ Coal (including anthracite and steam, gas,
household, and all other kinds of coal) and coke ” in the
list of goods the exportation of which is prohibited by the
Proclamation of July 28, 1915, to all destinations abroad
other than British possessions and protectorates should be
deleted under an amending Proclamation contained in the
London Gazette, and there be substituted therefor the
heading “ Coal, .all kinds, and coke, but not including coal
allowed by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to be
shipped as bunker coal.” Oil fuel is also prohibited, but
not such fuel allowed by the Commissioners of Customs and
Excise to be shipped for use on board the exporting ship.

The American export trade continues on recent lines, there
being a perceptible hardening tendency. Many vessels are
now bunkering for the round trip. Two 8,000-ton ships
being built for the Consolidation Coal Company are shortly
to put in service for the Mediterranean trade. Foreign ship-
ments are largely confined to New River and Pocahontas
coals, which are fetching 2'80 dels, to 2'85 dols. f.o.b.
Hampton Roads, with Georges Creek coals about ten cents
more f.o.b. Baltimore The approximate current freight to
the west coast of Italy is 10’20 dols.; Barcelona, 9'60 dols.
(Spanish dues for account); River Plate, 8T6 dols.;
Valparaiso, 7’0 dols. to 7’50 dols.

Judgment was delivered on the 29th ult. in the King’s
Bench Division, by Mr. Justice Younger in the case
Schaffenius v. Goldberg, which raised the question whether
a German who had been interned lost thereby his right to
sue in the British Courts. Plaintiff was born and bred
in Germany, but had for upwards of 22 years been resident
and carrying on business in this country. He had not been
naturalised, and on August 8, 1914, he was registered as an
enemy alien, and subsequently interned. His lordship found
that plaintiff’s rights to sue were not affected by internment.

Mr. W. Peter Rylands presided over the monthly meeting
of the Central Executive Committee of the Employers’
Parliamentary Association, held in Manchester last week.
A resolution relating to the proposed excess war profit tax
was adopted, in which the committee urged that an appeal
tribunal should be formed whereby manufacturers and
traders could apply for protection when the presence of any
special circumstances do not warrant the imposition of the
full amount of the tax. The central executive were also of
opinion that in the imposition of the excess profits tax care-
ful attention should be devoted by the Government to cases
where the giving of practical effect to the letter of the
Chancellor’s speech would operate unfairly, and it was
thought that in the case of a firm whose profits in any
one of the financial years upon which the assessment is
based suffered from any abnormal conditions outside its
control, such as strikes, fires, explosions, resulting in a
reduction of profits in such year or years, provision should
be made for the exclusion of such year or years in the calcu-
lation of the datum assessment, and such combination of
years shall be taken as may seem just.

The Australian Prime Minister, in the House of Repre-
sentatives at Melbourne, has made a statement with regard
to the coal trade of Australia, the position of which he said
had recently received further attention by the Government.
Shipments of coal were being permitted to consignees in
regard to whom satisfactory guarantees were obtainable from
the resident British Consul that the coal would be so dealt
with that it could not be diverted to the use of any public
or private vessel belonging to <a country at war with the
United Kingdom. From information received, however, it
appeared that in the absence of similar restrictions elsewhere
the export trade of the Commonwealth was being detriment-
ally affected. Representations were accordingly made to his
Majesty’s Government, with a view of ensuring that Aus-
tralia was on the same footing as other countries as to export
of coal. It was asked that advice be furnished without delay
when all restrictions could be removed, as it seemed from
Press reports that a difficulty was being experienced in obtain-
ing sufficient coal in the United Kingdom for war purposes.
It was strongly urged by the Australian Government that
consideration be given to the question of obtaining supplies
of coal from Australia. This, it was mentioned, would aid
in relieving the situation in the Commonwealth. The Secre-
tary of State advised, in reply, that his Majesty’s Govern-
ment was most anxious that no unnecessary restrictions
should be imposed on the Australian coal export trade, and
the following arrangements were then made :—The export of
coal to the Philippine Islands, Honolulu, and Mexico is to be
unrestricted, provided British consuls are first consulted, and
are satisfied that the shipments are bona fide. As regards
South American ports and the Dutch East Indies, shipments
will be allowed to named consignees in these ports, who are
recognised coal importers, on the same conditions as are
imposed in respect of export from the United Kingdom. The
Governments of Japan and Canada were being asked to take
similar action. With respect to the question of shipments of
Australian coal to the United Kingdom, the Board of Trade
advised that owing to the high freights now ruling, and in
view of the fact that in ordinary years the price of coal free
on board at Newcastle exceeds the average price of coal at the
pit head in the United Kingdom, it was probable that coal

could not be brought from Australia on terms admitting of
competition with coal of domestic origin, even at the inflated
prices now prevailing.

Presiding over the annual meeting of the Steel Company
of Scotland at Glasgow recently, Mr. W. Lorimer said the
price of coal and triping increased by 85 per cent., and the
price of dross increased by no less than 127 per cent. The
increased costs were offset by the higher selling prices
obtained for their products, and also by the fact that they
were working at full pressure in almost every department.
A great deal had been said recently about a special tax on
war profits, and the principle had been embodied in the
agreement entered into between Mr. Lloyd George and the
trade unions, so far as controlled establishments were, con-
cerned. The Government proposals were now before them,
though the directors had not had time to consider to what
extent they were going to affect the company. He approved
of the principle which had now been set forth in the Budget
—though he was not at all sure that its application was
adequate. To his mind, there was something absolutely
revolting in the idea of anyone making profits out of the
nation’s agony, and especially so in the case of a man or a
company who had had no extra labour or anxiety, but whose
opportunity had come solely because of artificial scarcity
created by the Government on account of the nation’s needs.
Sacrifice was demanded, and he contemplated with equani-
mity further taxation of their profits.

A message from Trondhjem states that the steamer
“ Orion ” arrived there some days ago from Tromso with
1,900 tons of coal, bought by a ship owner at Bergen. The
coal was sold to a buyer at Tromso, who ordered the steamer
to go to a port between Tromso and Trondhjem, which
should be named later. The owner made no reservation, no
licence being necessary, as in the case of British coal. On
arriving at Trondhjem the captin of the “ Orion ” received
orders to go into the harbour to the Hommelviken quay,
where the ship was to be unloaded by the interned auxiliary
cruiser “ Berlin.” The captain communicated with the
ship owner, who demanded that the contract should be
cancelled, because he could not provide the interned cruiser
with coals, as he feared that if he did he might later be
refused a licence for British coal. Negotiations between the
Defence Department and the ship owner have resulted in
the State purchasing the coal.

Mining Institute of Scotland.—A general meeting of the
Mining Institute of Scotland will be held in the Heriot-Watt
College, Chambers-street, Edinburgh, to-morrow (Saturday),
at 3 p.m. Mr. Henry Briggs’ paper on “ The Resident
Brigade System v. the System of Non-Resident Brigades,”
will be discussed, as will Mr. Michael M'Cormick’s paper on
“An Auxiliary and Outfit for Attachment to Self-Contained
Rescue Apparatus,” and Mr. Marcel Gillieaux’s paper on
“ Lining Shafts with Concrete Z-Blocks.”

Norwegian Coal Imports.—The following particulars are
taken from the trade journal, Farmand, showing the chief
coal, coke, and cinder importing towns in Norway in 1913,
and the total amounts imported at each are quoted by H.M.
Consul-General :—

Town.	1911.	1912.	1913.
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Christiania 			 546,612 ...	578,920 ...	599,365
Bergen 			 284,941 ...	283,201 ...	281,405
Drammen	.			 167,674 ...	205,635 ...	221,431
Trondhjem 			 160,063 ...	191,377 ...	201,442
Sarpsborg				 124,472 ...	140,520 ...	133,229
Skien .......................			71,453 ...	91,095 ...	85,378
Narvik 				67,411 ...	74,141 ...	80,582
Stavanger				71,280 ...	72,999 ...	72,311
Vardb				13,875 ...	15,958 ...	65,631
Fredrikstad		36,169 ...	43,411 ...	51,632
Christiansand		36,692 ...	44,980 ...	51,804
Aalesund 		43,641 ...	43,260 ...	48,258
S vol veer			32,503 ...	43,640 ...	42,316
Fredrikshald 		24,605 ...	39,717 ...	41.248
Bodb 		46,673 ...	48,705 ...	38,446
Haugesund 		39,269 ...	40,754 ...	38,305
Moss 		38,083 ...	44,592 ...	38,029
Hammerfest 		27,526 ...	39,901 ...	34,803
Tromso 				41,007 ...	49,435 ...	33,292
Christiansund		27,085 ...	56,878 ...	31,958
Arendal		22,123 ...	32,300 ...	31,872

Total for all Norway ... 2,187,323 ... 2,476,914 ... 2,486,896
The greater part of the coal imported into Norway comes
from the United Kingdom, but the Spitzbergen coal is said
to be growing in favour in the northern Norwegian ports.
One merchant in North Norway told the consul he buys all
the Spitzbergen coal he can get, even if slightly dearer than
best Newcastle coal, oil account of its excellent quality. But
however excellent the quality of the coal may be, several
factors are thought to militate somewhat against the trade
being remunerative on a large scale—for instance, the question
of freight, which is said to be largely dependent on drift
ice; the fact that coal can only be shipped for three or four
months in the year, thus necessitating the extra cost of storage
in Norway; and the danger of labour difficulties and the cost
of labour in a settlement cut off from the outer world for
eight months at a time. Further points mentioned are the
absence of running water for eight months in the year, so
that water for boilers and general use has to be melted from
ice; the cost of transport, and the necessity of providing food
and lodging for workmen. Further remarks on the subject
of Spitzbergen coal are to be found in the report of the Vice-
Consul at Bergen (Mr. Filliter). The Vice-Consul at Ham-
merfest (Mr. Robertson) writes :—“ The shipment from
Spitzergen was somewhat larger than in 1912; the quality
was very good, and in spite of their small size, the coals are
preferred both on steamers and for household purposes; the
prices c.i.f. were the same as for West Hartley D.C.B., but
even if 10 per cent, more was asked, they would probably be
preferred; the one company working there has not been able
to satisfy the demand.” The Vice-Consul at Tromso (Mr.
Holmboe) states that at that port they fetch rather higher
prices than the best British coals, and are excellent for steam
raising. No part of the output has come as far south as
Bergen. A large proportion of the coal shipped to Narvik
is destined for use on the Ofoten Railway, but the Vice-
Consul at Narvik (Mr. Aagaard) states that the section of
the line on the Swedish side of the frontier is to be operated
by electricity obtained from the Porjus waterfalls, a fact
which will considerably diminish the coal import,

BOOK NOTICES.

Laboratory Work for Coal Mining Students. By J. Sim and
A. M. Wylie. 136 pp. 7 in. x 4fin., with 17 figs.
London : Edward Arnold, 1915. Price, 2s. 6d. net.

The authors have rightly appreciated the importance
of laboratory work for the colliery engineer, but we think
they have given the wrong reason. There is no real
analogy between the metal-mining engineer and the
colliery engineer. To the former a knowledge of
assaying is indispensable, but we fail to see any absolute
necessity for a coal-mining engineer to be an expert in
fuel analysis, oil testing, and such laboratory routine.
At the same time such a course cannot fail to be helpful
in developing the best qualities of mind, and as a means
of education for the colliery engineer there is much
to be said in favour of any kind of laboratory work in
which accuracy in results is essential. The main
question to determine is in what way the mining student
can best employ the time spent in college courses. Here
is an admirable elementary guide to fuel and gas
analysis, with a short chapter on “ Fan Testing,” some-
what incongruously thrown in. But there is a year’s
work at least in the course here laid down if the
principles treated are to be properly assimilated; and
in these days when the colliery engineer has to possess so
many statutory qualifications there is some doubt as to
how far time can be spared for specialising in analytical
chemistry.

There are, however, many sections of this book which
are essential to a complete education as a colliery
engineer. We will mention only sampling mine gases
and testing mine air, the chapter on which alone makes
the book worth having; and w’e therefore recommend it
as a sound and trustworthy guide to the subject with
which it deals.

The Journal of the Institute of Metals. Vol. xiii. Edited
by G. Shaw Scott, M.Sc. London : The Institute of
Metals. Price, 21s. net.

At a period like the present, when the country is
absorbed in the manufacture of shell, it is timely that
there should appear a new volume of the Journal of
the Institute of Metals, containing matter that cannot
fail to be of interest and value to all engaged in the
working of copper, brass, bronze, aluminium, nickel,
and other of the non-ferrous metals and alloys that
are so largely used in the manufacture of shell and other
munitions of war. Though published in the midst of
the world’s greatest war, the present Journal, the 13th
of a half-yearly series, is one of the largest and most
important that has ever been issued by the Institute of
Metals. It contains 471 pages, as well as 10 full-page
plates and numerous illustrations in the text.

The section of the book containing international
abstracts of scientific and practical papers dealing with
copper, brass, and other non-ferrous metals, is remark-
ably complete, bearing in mind the difficulty of .obtain-
ing access to Continental technical and scientific papers.
Nevertheless, the editor appears to have been able to
secure a good collection of abstracts from German
technical papers published during the war, and this
information cannot fail to be of considerable value to
British manufacturers.

The membership list, which includes 636 names, is
noteworthy in that it contains no names of German or
Austro-Hungarian members, who in the past were
strong supporters — for, possibly, not disinterested
reasons — of the Institute of Metals. Besides losing
these members, the institute is also affected temporarily
by the patriotism of 12 per cent, of its members, whose
names are appropriately included in a roll of honour
which is printed in the Journal.

Mr. Thomas Townrow, of Chesterfield, chairman of the
Hatfield Main Colliery Company Limited, has left .£157,867,
of which £103,903 was net personalty.

Mrs. Isabella Straker, of Stagshaw House, Corbridge, who
died on June 13 last, at the age of 92 years, was the widow
of Mr. John Straker, in his day a very well-known colliery
proprietor. She left estate valued at £88,539 0s. 4d. gross,
and £86,654 2s. net.

The Mirrlees Watson Company have recently received
orders for condensing plant from Messrs. Greenwood and
Batley Limited, for Tinsley Park Colliery (second set);
Rossington Main Colliery (second set); and Messrs. Fraser
and Chalmers for North Lonsdale Iron Company. Dry air
pumps have been ordered by the Houghton Main Colliery
Company.

In the report on the trade of Hong Kong for 1914 it is
stated that there was an increase of 171,664 tons, or 15’1
per cent, in coal imports, the increase being uniformly
spread over the whole year. There was a very large increase
in the imports of Welsh coal, which, however, bear a very
small proportion to the total imports. Japanese coal fell
off, and Chinese increased, while a small quantity of
Australian coal found its way to the colony in one of the
prizes.

The steel committee of the Newcastle Chamber of
Commerce reported, on Tuesday, having issued 152
certificates during the previous month, making a total of
230 in all. The Admiralty had asked the Committee’s
opinion as to the advisability of privileging certain firms to
export steel without the necessity of obtaining licences, but
the Committee had replied not favouring that step, on the
ground that such .a privilege, creating invidious distinctions,
would cause ill-feeling.—At the same meeting, the Advisory
Committee reported, through Mr. Herbert Shaw*, secretary,
as to the reasons for the restriction of coal exports to
Sweden—reasons which, however, it is inadvisable to make
public. Mr. Shaw reported, also, that during the past
month he had had three visits from representatives of very
big firms in Russia who were anxious to begin trading with
this country. He had been able to put them in communica-
tion with the proper firms. Mr. Shaw added that Russia
had been so accustomed to a long system of credit that, if
British manufacturers were to get a “ cut in ” at the trade
with Russia, they would have to give the same long credit
to which Russian merchants had been accustomed from
other countries,